Portable desk



(N0 Model.)

0. H. WHITE. PORTABLE DESK.

No. 492,316. Patented Feb. 21, 1893.

NrrEn STATES OLIVER H. WHITE, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

PORTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,316, dated February 21, 1893.

Application filed July 28, 1892.

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER H. WHITE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fremont, in the county of Dodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in writing desks.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable or lap desk with hinged supports which will serve to hold the desk in proper position when placed upon a table or in the users lap, said supports being hinged to the underside of the top so that they can be folded to form compartments for the reception of note books, stationery, &c., the top also having an aperture which is adapted to receive an ink Well and another to form a handle or grasping portion; an extension leaf being provided to form a support for a book or other object.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved desk. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View showing the under-cut recess which receives the flared end of the swinging arm.

A designates the top, to the side edges of which are secured reinforcing strips 13 which depend from the underside thereof. This top is provided in its upper right hand corner with an aperture 0 which has secured beneath the same a bent plate to form a support for an ink well, and to the underside of the top near the upper edge to one side of the center is pivoted an extension leaf D, which when swung out is adapted to support a note book or other matter to be copied; thus adding materially to the size of the top. The lower portion of the top is provided with an aperture a, which forms a convenient hand grasping portion in carrying the desk. To the un- $erial No. 441,494. (No model.)

der side of the top are secured longitudinal strips 1) and d to which are hinged supporting boards E and F, said supporting boards being centrally notched to engage with a button e carried by a crossbar f which projects from the underside of the top; and when the l supporting boards are closed or folded so as to lie parallel with the top two compartments or receptacles are formed which are adapted to receive notebooks, stationery, or such articles as it is desired to place within the desk. The supporting strip F has hinged thereto a swinging arm G, which is adapted to abut against the support E, the free end thereof entering a recess which is provided with undercut .sides 9 and an inclined bottom g, the end of said arm being flared outwardly as shown, so that when it enters the recess the parts will be locked. When the supports E and F are lowered they will be at substantially right angles with the top, and as the rear support is of greater depth than the front support, when the desk is placed upon a table or held in the lap the top of the desk will be properly inclined. When the arm G is swung to lie parallel with the support B said support and the support E may be turned upon their hinges so as to lie against the cross-bar f, and when retained in such position by means of the button closed compartments Will be formed on each side of said cross-bar, which extend therefrom to the end battens B B; said compartments being formed by the end battens, centralcross-barf, top of the desk, and folded supports. \Vhen the desk is not in use articles of stationery may be retained in the compartments.

A lap desk thus constructed can be cheaply manufactured and forms a convenient and useful article, and when folded will occupy but little space.

It is proposed to manufacture the desk of light wood, or other suitable material.

I-Iavingthus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a portable desk for the purpose set forth, the combination of a top, transverse strips secured to the ends thereof, horizontal strips secured to the underside, a central divided strip carrying a button, and supports E and F of diiferent widths hinged to the'longitudinal strips, the button carried by the transverse strip being adapted to engage with both of said supports,substantial1y as shown,

, stantially as set forth.

and for the purpose set forth. 7 '2. As an improved article of manufacture, i a portable desk constructed substantially as shown and provided withhinged supports, said supports being of different widths, one of the supports carrying a swinging arm which is adapted to engage with the opposite support to hold it at substantially right angles with the top, saidsupports-being cut away centrally, a cross-bar carrying a button which is adapted to pass through the cut away portions and engage the supports, the top of the desk having an aperture to form a grasping portion, sub- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 20 presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER H. WHITE.

Witnesses:

Vtogron SEITZ, FRANK L. STABLER. 

